For those of you wondering if St. Joseph (New) is part of St. Joseph (Old), the answer is "no." For a detailed explanation as to how the cemeteries, located only two miles apart, came to share a name, please follow the "St. Joseph (Old) link above. Those of you who couldn't care less (or who have already explored the other page), should keep reading.

St. Joseph (New), unlike the "old" St. Joseph, is built on fairly flat terrain. Also unlike its fellow is the relative absence of trees. Those that are present seem to stand along the edge of the property with only a handful of "trespassers." This means heliophobes such as the proprietors of Bella Morte should plan to visit only on an overcast day or, barring that, plan to bring a hat with a very wide brim!

That being said, St. Joseph (New) does have some stones that are definitely worth visiting. The Bella Morte favourite would have to be the gorgeous "Cafferata" monument where the draped figure of a woman, overwrought with grief, leans against a white slab, head bowed, slender arms stretched out before her. Although this memorial was a stock item at one time, the only other examples we have come across thus far were located in Montreal's breathtaking Our Lady of the Snows Cemetery. Gorgeously dramatic, she is a lady worthy of a second look.

Another stone, and one we've never seen duplicated, belongs to the Keating family. The monument stands amidst an excess of unremarkable stones, but it's still a bit difficult to locate simply because it isn't that large. When you see it, however, you'll definitely know it. The Keating stone is fashioned in the shape of a two-story home. It might sound quaint, but the reality is much different. Time and weather have taken their toll on the stone and it stands like an eerie memorial to a tragic conflagration. The open windows have weathered in a manner that suggests heavy smoke damage. Blackened, empty, they are truly creepy. The rest of the home is similarly disconcerting. The faux-slate roof is truncated and topped with a piece of sandstone that has succumbed to the ravages of time. We suppose it may have been a cross, but that is mere speculation. The chimney, which is surprisingly delicate, is intact. One almost expects to see tendrils of smoke rising from it! The suggestion of a porch juts out from the front of the structure, but if one ever did exist, not even a vestige remains. We also got the impression a diminutive set of stairs once led to the front door...but, again, that is only a guess on our part. In any event, the stone memorializes 4, 5, perhaps even 6 Keating children who all died during the 1860s and 1870s. Sadly, our transcription of the names and dates has been misplaced. We hope to return one day to recopy it. In the meantime, should any of you happen to beat us there, we would be deeply appreciative if you would record the information and send it to us. We'll even credit you right here on this page!

St. Joseph (New) also has a very large community mausoleum. We have been told there are several smaller, newer, community buildings that have been constructed since our visit in 2002, but we have no first-hand information to relate about these. The old mausoleum, on the other hand, is worth a brief visit. It features an enormous chapel area lined with hundreds of metal folding chairs. (Note: The day we visited, some sort of Easter service had recently been held as evidenced by the profusion of spring-coloured candles on the altar, and that may explain the presence of all the chairs...they may not be there all the time). At the far end of the chapel, the altar stands in an alcove. Above it, a large cross hung with a painted corpus of Christ is suspended. To either side of the altar is a long corridor lined with identical marble-fronted crypts. The monotony of the set-up is overwhelming, and even the fact that burning candles are permitted couldn't prompt us to stay more than a few minutes.

Overall, St. Joseph (New) is a good cemetery to visit at least once if you happen to be in the area. Although it isn't truly exceptional, the few monuments that are beautiful are exceptionally so...and the Keating stone alone requires a venture into the place. Of course, if you are in the area, you'll be very near Ohio's crown jewel, Spring Grove...so don't waste the opportunity to visit her! You'll also be close to: St. Joseph (Old), Vine Street Hill, Walnut Hills and St. Mary's.